Schuylkill man accused of stealing veterans grave markers

A Schuylkill County man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly stealing 16 veterans' grave markers in July and selling them to a scrap yard.

Samuel Steffie, 40, of Schuylkill Haven took the bronze markers from an unidentified cemetery and sold them July 11 to the USS Achey Scrap Yard in Orwigsburg, state police at Schuylkill Haven said.

Police listed the Schuylkill County Department of Veterans Affairs as the victim. The department regularly posts the markers at veterans' graves.

Steffie was arraigned Wednesday by District Judge James Ferrier on charges of receiving stolen property and desecration of venerated objects. He was sent to Schuylkill County Prison under $2,500 bail.

Another 16 Schuylkill County veterans' grave markers were found in Cassville, Tenn., in July. Authorities suggested then that the thieves were unable to find a buyer, and dumped the markers along a remote road.